Medication safety in nursing homes

Multimorbidity, polymedication and functional impairment together with diminished everyday competence and communication ability predispose nursing home residents to adverse drug events (ADE). The high number of psychiatric drug prescriptions is a characteristic feature. The project "Medication Safety in Nursing Homes", funded by the Federal Ministry of Health, found an incidence of approximately 8 ADEs per 100 nursing home resident-months. About one third of the ADEs had clinical consequences, notably hospital admissions and additional visits of general practitioners. Many ADEs are due to errors in the medication process, coupled with the effects of poor communication among health care professionals. Thus, structured interventions are intended to not only sensitize to these problems, but also to support and foster a multidisciplinary way of thinking and acting.